Skip Count by 2s, 5s and 10s | 1st Grade Math

Grade 1 Math  ›  U.S. & State Extensions  ›  Lesson 29

Grade 1 Math - U.S. & State Extension

Skip Count by 2s, 5s and 10s

Learn to skip count by 2s, 5s, and 10s, recognize number patterns, fill in missing numbers, and use equal groups to count objects efficiently.

Students connect skip-counting sequences with pairs, groups of five, and bundles of ten and practice counting totals up to 120.

Skip counting Count by 2s Count by 5s Count by 10s Grade 1 Math

🎯 What You Will Learn

Skip count by 2s
Count pairs and groups of two efficiently.

Skip count by 5s
Count equal groups of five and recognize the 5-or-0 ones-digit pattern.

Skip count by 10s
Count bundles of ten and extend patterns to 120.

Use patterns to find totals
Choose a useful skip-counting rule for equal groups.

For parents & teachers — standards alignment: Skip counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s is not a standalone Common Core Grade 1 requirement. CCSS 1.NBT.A.1 focuses on counting to 120. In Grade 2, CCSS 2.NBT.A.2 explicitly includes skip counting by 5s, 10s, and 100s, while CCSS 2.OA.C.3 develops reasoning with pairs of objects when students work with even and odd groups. This lesson is therefore an extension in the MathLattice Grade 1 sequence. Texas Grade 1 TEKS 1.5(B), however, directly requires students to skip count by twos, fives, and tens to determine the total number of objects up to 120 in a set.

🧠 Key Vocabulary

skip count — count by the same amount each time instead of counting by ones.

equal group — a group that has the same number of objects as every other group.

pattern — a sequence that follows a repeated rule.

pair — a group of 2 objects.

group of five — a group containing exactly 5 objects.

bundle of ten — a group containing exactly 10 objects.

🔢 Three Skip-Counting Patterns

By 2s

246810

By 5s

510152025

By 10s

1020304050

👀 Look for Number Patterns

5→ 10→ 15→ 20→ 25

In the usual skip-counting sequence of multiples of 5, the ones digit alternates between 5 and 0. In the usual sequence of multiples of 10, every number ends in 0.

Useful strategy: first identify the size of each equal group. If each group has 2 objects, count by 2s; if each has 5, count by 5s; if each has 10, count by 10s.

Common mistake: changing the amount you add in the middle of the sequence. In skip counting, the counting rule stays the same from one number to the next.

✅ Four Questions to Ask

What is the rule?Are you adding 2, 5, or 10 each time?

Equal groups?Make sure every group has the same number of objects.

What comes next?Apply the same rule one more time.

What is the total?When you count all equal groups from the first group, the last number you say gives the total.

🌟 25 Worked Examples

Try each pattern first. Then open “Show solution” to check your reasoning.

1 Skip count by 2s

Start at 2 and skip count by 2s four more times. What numbers do you say?

Show solutionHide solution

Add 2 each time: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10.

2 Skip count by 5s

Start at 5 and skip count by 5s four more times.

Show solutionHide solution

Add 5 each time: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25.

3 Skip count by 10s

Start at 10 and skip count by 10s four more times.

Show solutionHide solution

Add 10 each time: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50.

4 Count pairs of socks

There are 6 pairs of socks. Each pair has 2 socks. Skip count by 2s to find the total.

Show solutionHide solution

Count 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12. There are 12 socks.

5 Count groups of five

There are 5 groups of 5 stars. Skip count by 5s to find the total.

Show solutionHide solution

Count 5, 10, 15, 20, 25. There are 25 stars.

6 Count bundles of ten

There are 7 bundles of 10 straws. What is the total?

Show solutionHide solution

Count 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70. The total is 70 straws.

7 Find the next number by 2s

What comes next: 14, 16, 18, __?

Show solutionHide solution

The pattern adds 2 each time, so the next number is 20.

8 Find the next number by 5s

What comes next: 30, 35, 40, __?

Show solutionHide solution

The pattern adds 5 each time, so the next number is 45.

9 Find the next number by 10s

What comes next: 60, 70, 80, __?

Show solutionHide solution

The pattern adds 10 each time, so the next number is 90.

10 Fill a missing number by 2s

Complete: 22, 24, __, 28, 30.

Show solutionHide solution

The numbers increase by 2. The missing number is 26.

11 Fill a missing number by 5s

Complete: 45, 50, __, 60, 65.

Show solutionHide solution

The numbers increase by 5. The missing number is 55.

12 Fill a missing number by 10s

Complete: 30, 40, __, 60, 70.

Show solutionHide solution

The numbers increase by 10. The missing number is 50.

13 Recognize a 2s pattern

Which list is skip counting by 2s: 6, 8, 10, 12 or 6, 11, 16, 21?

Show solutionHide solution

The first list adds 2 each time, so 6, 8, 10, 12 is the 2s pattern.

14 Recognize a 5s pattern

Which list is skip counting by 5s: 15, 20, 25, 30 or 15, 25, 35, 45?

Show solutionHide solution

The first list adds 5 each time: 15, 20, 25, 30.

15 Recognize a 10s pattern

Which list is skip counting by 10s: 20, 30, 40, 50 or 20, 25, 30, 35?

Show solutionHide solution

The first list adds 10 each time: 20, 30, 40, 50.

16 Count ten groups of two

There are 10 groups of 2 counters. What is the total?

Show solutionHide solution

Skip count by 2s ten times: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20. The total is 20.

17 Count eight groups of five

There are 8 groups of 5 beads. What is the total?

Show solutionHide solution

Skip count by 5s eight times: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40. The total is 40 beads.

18 Count nine groups of ten

There are 9 bundles of 10 pencils. What is the total?

Show solutionHide solution

Skip count by 10s nine times to get 90 pencils.

19 Choose the best skip count

A tray has 6 equal rows with 5 buttons in each row. Which skip-counting rule is useful?

Show solutionHide solution

Use 5s because each group contains 5 buttons.

20 Choose between 2s and 10s

There are 4 pairs of shoes. Should you skip count by 2s or 10s?

Show solutionHide solution

A pair has 2 items, so skip count by 2s.

21 Pattern in the ones digit for 5s

Look at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30. What do you notice about the ones digit?

Show solutionHide solution

The ones digits alternate between 5 and 0.

22 Pattern in the ones digit for 10s

Look at 10, 20, 30, 40, 50. What do you notice about the ones digit?

Show solutionHide solution

Every number ends in 0.

23 Pattern in the ones digit for 2s

Look at 12, 14, 16, 18, 20. What do you notice about how the ones digit changes?

Show solutionHide solution

In this even-number sequence, the ones digit moves through the repeating pattern 2, 4, 6, 8, 0 as 2 is added each time.

24 Skip count to 120 by 10s

Continue by 10s from 80 until you reach 120.

Show solutionHide solution

The sequence is 80, 90, 100, 110, 120.

25 Mixed challenge

There are 12 groups of 5 counters. What total do you get, and what skip-counting rule do you use?

Show solutionHide solution

Use 5s: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60. The total is 60 counters.

🎮 Independent Practice — 30 Problems

1. Skip count by 2s: 2, 4, 6, __, 10.
2. Skip count by 5s: 5, 10, 15, __, 25.
3. Skip count by 10s: 10, 20, 30, __, 50.
4. Complete: 18, 20, __, 24, 26.
5. Complete: 35, 40, __, 50, 55.
6. Complete: 70, 80, __, 100, 110.
7. There are 7 pairs of gloves. How many gloves are there?
8. There are 6 groups of 5 apples. How many apples are there?
9. There are 8 bundles of 10 sticks. How many sticks are there?
10. Which rule fits 12, 14, 16, 18: by 2s, 5s, or 10s?
11. Which rule fits 25, 30, 35, 40: by 2s, 5s, or 10s?
12. Which rule fits 50, 60, 70, 80: by 2s, 5s, or 10s?
13. What comes next: 32, 34, 36, __?
14. What comes next: 55, 60, 65, __?
15. What comes next: 90, 100, 110, __?
16. There are 9 groups of 2 counters. Find the total.
17. There are 7 groups of 5 counters. Find the total.
18. There are 11 groups of 10 counters. Find the total.
19. Which is useful for counting 5 pairs of socks: by 2s or by 5s?
20. Which is useful for counting 4 bundles of 10 pencils: by 5s or by 10s?
21. Write the next three numbers after 24 when skip counting by 2s.
22. Write the next three numbers after 40 when skip counting by 5s.
23. Write the next three numbers after 60 when skip counting by 10s.
24. Look at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25. What digits do the numbers end in?
25. Look at 20, 30, 40, 50. What digit do all the numbers end in?
26. Complete the 2s pattern: 102, 104, __, 108, 110.
27. Complete the 5s pattern: 95, 100, __, 110, 115.
28. Complete the 10s pattern: 80, 90, __, 110, 120.
29. How many objects are in 10 groups of 5?
30. Extension: Explain why skip counting can be faster than counting every object by ones.

🏆 Lesson Test — 15 Questions

1. A box holds 8 pairs of crayons. How many crayons are there?
2. Nine equal groups each contain 5 stickers. How many stickers are there in all?
3. Twelve bundles each contain 10 straws. What is the total number of straws?
4. Complete the pattern: 42, 44, 46, __, 50.
5. Complete the pattern: 65, 70, __, 80, 85.
6. Complete the pattern: 40, 50, __, 70, 80.
7. A sequence is 18, 20, 22, 24. Which skip-counting rule is being used?
8. A sequence is 30, 35, 40, 45. Which skip-counting rule is being used?
9. A sequence is 60, 70, 80, 90. Which skip-counting rule is being used?
10. A student wants to count all the wheels on several bicycles, with 2 wheels on each bicycle. Which skip-counting rule should the student use and why?
11. Each box holds exactly 10 markers. Which skip-counting rule is useful for counting all the markers in several boxes, and why?
12. A frog starts on 104 and makes 3 jumps of 2 on a number line. On what number does it land?
13. A counter starts on 80 and moves forward 3 jumps of 5. On what number does it land?
14. A marker starts on 70 and moves forward 3 jumps of 10. On what number does it land?
15. Explain what skip counting means.

🔐 Complete Answer Key

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Practice Answers

1. 8.

2. 20.

3. 40.

4. 22.

5. 45.

6. 90.

7. 14 gloves.

8. 30 apples.

9. 80 sticks.

10. By 2s.

11. By 5s.

12. By 10s.

13. 38.

14. 70.

15. 120.

16. 18.

17. 35.

18. 110.

19. By 2s.

20. By 10s.

21. 26, 28, 30.

22. 45, 50, 55.

23. 70, 80, 90.

24. They end in 5 or 0.

25. 0.

26. 106.

27. 105.

28. 100.

29. 50.

30. Possible answer: skip counting counts equal groups at once, so you say fewer number words than counting every object by ones.

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Test Answers

1. 16 crayons.

2. 45 stickers.

3. 120 straws.

4. 48.

5. 75.

6. 60.

7. By 2s.

8. By 5s.

9. By 10s.

10. By 2s, because each bicycle contributes 2 wheels.

11. By 10s, because every box contains exactly 10 markers.

12. 110.

13. 95.

14. 100.

15. Skip counting means counting by the same amount each time instead of counting by ones.

💡 Common Mistakes to Watch For

Switching the rule
Do not add 2 once and then add 5. Keep the same skip-counting amount.

Counting unequal groups
Skip counting works cleanly when every group contains the same number of objects.

Losing track of the total
The last number said is the total number of objects counted.

Confusing 5s and 10s
By 5s, numbers can end in 5 or 0; by 10s, they end in 0.

What comes next: Lesson 30 focuses on U.S. Coins: Pennies, Nickels, Dimes & Quarters.

🔗 Related Lessons

Lesson 5 — 10 More, 10 Less & Number Patterns Review number patterns and counting by tens. Lesson 28 — Halves, Fourths & Quarters Review the previous lesson before beginning the extension sequence.

🖨️ Printable Companion

A future Skip Count by 2s, 5s and 10s Practice Pack can include number paths, equal-group counting cards, missing-number patterns, skip-counting puzzles, object-grouping tasks, mixed review, and a complete answer key.

← Lesson 28: Halves, Fourths & Quarters Grade 1 Math Hub Next: U.S. Coins: Pennies, Nickels, Dimes & Quarters →